Stay alert so that none can mislead people using religion
President M Abdul Hamid yesterday asked all to remain vigilant so that none can mislead the people by using religion to further their narrow interests.
"Communal harmony is the eternal tradition of Bangalees …. There is no room for majority or minority here," he said while exchanging Durga Puja greetings with leaders of the Hindu community at the Bangabhaban, and urged everyone to work together to advance this tradition in the greater interest of the country.
The head of state also wished all the Hindus across the world including Bangladesh.
He said, "We must celebrate Durga Puja but we must remember that our neighbours, friends and relatives should not be deprived of this joy."
Referring to the deaths of 70 pilgrims after a boat carrying them capsized in Karatoa river in Panchagarh on September 25, the President expressed profound shock and sorrow over the causalities and wished immediate recovery of the injured.
Abdul Hamid also conveyed deep sympathies to the bereaved families.
Noting that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently the Russia-Ukraine war have created global unrest and conflict, President Hamid said the people of the world are passing their days in extreme uncertainty, and the situation has wreaked havoc on the world economy, hit by recession.
"There is no alternative to absolute tolerance, mutual trust and confidence and cooperation to overcome the prevailing situation," he observed.
Referring to the unexpected power outage on Tuesday, the president said there was some disruption due to this.
He, however, expressed hope that in the coming days all religious festivals will be celebrated with more beauty and grandeur, and the bonds of harmony and amity will be strengthened among all, irrespective of caste or religion.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan, Senior Vice-Chairman of Religious Welfare Trust Manoranjan Shil Gopal, Trustee of Hindu Welfare Trust Professor Pran Gopal Dutta, Vice-Chairman of Hindu Welfare Trust Subrata Pal, President of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee JL Bhowmik, Dhaka Metropolitan Sarbojonin Puja Committee president Monindra Kumar Nath, Dhaka Ramakrishna Math and Mission's Principal Swami Haripremananda Maharaj, also spoke at the end.
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